ALEXANDER GAIR
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor
ADF service: I joined God’s Corp – the Royal Australian Artillery – in 2002 as a Gunner. I have deployed to East Timor, multiple times to Afghanistan, Iraq and Domestic Counter Terrorism duties.
Other information: Most of my friends know me as Foxy. I was briefly called ‘Foxy 2 Pies’ during Commando selection after taking 2 Mrs Mac’s meat pies. People say, when you get old, you regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did. Those people never took 2 pies during Special Forces selection.
Age: 43
Hometown: Bowral, NSW
Current town: Sydney, NSW
Competing in: Indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, and snowboarding.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? During my career in the Army, I sustained many injuries to my shoulders, back, hips and knees.
Sport background: Growing up the main sport I played was ice hockey. It wasn’t until I joined the Army that I developed a passion for playing sports and training. I was involved in rugby union, Brazilian jiu jitsu and gym training. One of my favourite sports activities now is watching my kids play. Both my boys are exceptional rugby league and touch football players, who represent metropolitan Sydney at state titles.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Sport has always provided a community of like-minded people coming together to achieve a common goal. Being a part of a team environment has held me accountable and helped maintain focus on my goals. Continually setting training goals and training as part of a team helps me maintain motivation.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I didn’t think I was good enough to make the team. It was a long few days as I expected to get the ‘bad news’ call. However, it never came and I got the congratulations email instead, so I was very surprised and excited to be able to write a new chapter in my life and start a journey that I have never been on before.
What is your greatest achievement to date? I think I have achieved so much throughout my career. The ADF gave me opportunities that I would never have had in a civilian job. I set many goals while in the ADF. I failed countless times but, through determination, I managed to achieve my goals, but my greatest achievement is being a strong positive role model and father to my kids.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? After I discharged, I dedicated myself to my kids. I had missed so much of their lives with deployments, exercises and on courses that I wanted to be there for them. I noticed that my mental health wasn’t on track, and my rehabilitation journey wasn’t going well either. I applied to Invictus to set goals to work towards, to improve myself physically and mentally and to be a role model for my kids. After Invictus I hope to instil in my kids that mental health matters, that it’s OK to not be OK, that’s it’s OK to talk about mental health and how we feel, and that you define your own journey.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? Winning to me will be inspiring those around me to accomplish their goals, to inspire others to change their narrative and to inspire my kids to never stop challenging themselves.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My closest friend of over 10 years, Arron, who has always supported me, will continue to support me through the Games.
